I (John) just got back from Solomon Islands last week. This is the third year in a row that I’ve gone there to teach translation software to translators who are working with Island Bible Ministries (IBM), the Bible school that my good friend, Dr Alpheaus Zobule, started. I always enjoy going as the translators are eager to learn how to use the software and resources that will help them produce good quality translations. The first week I taught 9 translators the basics of Paratext – the program used by most translators. The second week I taught 24 translators to use a computer program that contains over a thousand resources (Bible versions, commentaries, etc.) for use in translation. They were thrilled to have access to many resources that can help them in their work.

This year I decided to ask the translators to share their testimonies for the morning devotions and it was so encouraging to hear how God has worked in their lives, both in bringing them to faith in Him and how He led them to involvement in translation.

Ricky Nelson (below) had to live with his relatives from the time he was in primary school because of dysfunction within his family. The Lord spoke to him through a message that Dr Zobule gave at a retreat he attended and later when someone told him of an opportunity to attend IBM he jumped at the chance. While he was only interested in taking Bible classes at first, he is now very interested in becoming involved in translation for his own language, Varisi. It was great to see his interest grow during the two weeks and also to see the great potential he has to be a good translator.

Malachi Haraikeni (the one on the left below) shared how he had a desire to be involved in translation work, but his wife was initially not in agreement and wanted him to find other work. He finally came to a point he had to decide one way or the other and it was neat to hear how God answered his prayers and his wife told him she would support his involvement in translation.

After I went running one day I met a Bughotu man on the street and he told me that Father Culwick (the priest we worked with on the Bughotu translation) and his wife were in Honiara. He said Father Culwick had fallen a few days previously and was recovering at a house in town. I had not seen them in over eight years, so I was thrilled to be able to go visit with them for a couple hours. It was good to see that Father Culwick was recovering and that he still had his great sense of humor!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Please continue to pray for Luke in this last semester of high school, that God would lead him clearly as he decides what to do after he graduates, and that he would continue to follow Jesus.
• Brena is catering & hosting weekly Staff Care events until the beginning of May. Pray for stamina and that God would provide people to take over her jobs.
• Please pray for wisdom as I do a consultant check (here in PNG) of 2 Corinthians for the Gizzra language.
• We’re very thankful for all of you who make it possible for us to continue serving with Wycliffe.

TO BE IN TOUCH:

PO Box 1 (134), Ukarumpa EHP 444, Papua New Guinea – john_bruner@sil.org,

Grant and Sara Bruner, 700 Daniel Ellis Dr., Apt 10105, Charleston, SC 29412

Joey Bruner, c/o Dave & Ceil Bruner, 206 Forest Trail, Isle of Palms, SC 29451

TO GIVE ONLINE:

https://www.wycliffe.org/partner/Bruners

TO GIVE BY MAIL:

send gifts to:
Wycliffe Bible Translators
P.O. Box 628200
Orlando, FL 32862